Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: A Retrospective Study on the Role of Dental Prophylaxis

Clinicians use bisphosphonates in neoplastic and metabolic bone diseases. Osteonecrosis is the main complication of the maxillary bones, along with late mucosal healing with necrotic bone exposure, pain, burning sensation, paresthesia, and is commonly associated with osteonecrosis. In the dental unit of our department, we checked 181 patients, and divided them into three groups: patients who had not undergone therapy, patients who were currently undergoing bisphosphonate therapy, and those who had completed bisphosphonate therapy (but who had not been followed-up). For clinical management, patients were treated with a dental prophylaxis protocol or drug therapy, involving topical and/or systemic administration, and then underwent surgical resections when the osteonecrosis did not improve with any treatment. Variability with the percent of complications was statistically significant in the three groups. Despite the limited number of patients in this study, which will require further investigation, our experience demonstrated that preventive strategies in relation to complications are crucial. At this point, a satisfactory treatment for this pathology does not exist.

Use of irradiate animal pericardium membrane for prevention of Frey's syndrome after parotidectomy

BACKGROUND

Frey syndrome is a common complication that appears few months after parotid surgery with flushing and sweating of the parotid-temporal area during mastication. It presumably originates from an aberrant nervous regeneration in which the parasympathetic fibers of the parotid gland would combine themselves with the sympathetic fibers of the sweat glands and with the cutaneous vessels.

AIM

In the present study we analyze the effectiveness of a collagenous membrane derived from animal pericardium (APM) to prevent Frey's syndrome after parotidectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied a total of 40 patients with benign tumors of the parotid gland, including 30 patients with pleomorphic adenoma, 7 patients with Warthin tumor and 3 with basal cells adenoma. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (experimental n=20) executed superficial parotidectomy with replacement of bovine pericardial matrix (BPM); group 2 (control n=20) underwent superficial parotidectomy followed by reposition of superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) flap. All patients were questioned over their subjective symptom and tested with Minor's test after 12 months from the intervention and introduced in a follow-up of 3 years.

RESULTS

Subjectively Frey syndrome was referred in 5% of patients in group 1 and in 10% in group 2, while 0 cases were observed in group 1 after the starch-iodine test, 2 cases in group 2 (10%).

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the present results, although this study needs further implementation, we can affirm that BPM is a valid option in preventing Frey's syndrome whereas SMAS flap is not available.